Pi Books

Great short read. Ahead of its time given it was writtem in 1955. Great book for women to help understand there role in life, not so much for men.

What more can be said about this lovely collection of thoughts? Even as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is as fresh as the day it was penned. This book is a keeper if ever there was one, a volume to be read and re-read and handed down to one's children, which is what I intend to do with the most recent Gift from the Sea that I bought.

Listed as a 'summer read' in a local magazine list - I hadn't heard of this book. I picked it up and finished it from one afternoon into the next morning. And -- there was nothing surprising or new to be found here in the book - the pace at which its written and the uncomplicated natural way Lindbergh examines her life and her impressions of life's stages will have me passing this book on to many people in my life.

What timeless wisdom there is in this little book. Although it was written many decades ago, the challenges and issues faced by Anne Morrow Lindbergh are the same ones faced by women in today's crazy, bustling world. In fact, although women in Siberia, Cameroon, or Ceylon might not have her specific set of circumstances, they can still identify with Lindbergh's ponderings about a woman's life, her obligations, her relationships, and her needs. She lived in an upscale suburb of Connecticut and was the mother of five children, and yet there's something in her writing that can touch the souls of women everywhere whether in a grass hut or trailer beside a busy highway

The chapters in Gift from the Sea center on Lindbergh's musings during a two-week vacation at the shore. Leaving husband, children, and house behind, she lives in a bare beach cabin without heat, telephone, plumbing, hot water, rugs, or curtains. She finds simplicity beautiful and longs to take it home to Connecticut when her vacation ends.

Lindbergh takes a shell at a time and describes it in relation to other things in a woman's life. For instance, the moon shell reminds her that quiet time, solitude, contemplation, and "something of one's own" is needed. The double-sunrise represents the pure relationship found in early stages of friendship and marriage, and she reminds the reader that there is no permanent return to an old form of relationship since all are in the process of change. The oyster bed symbolizes the middle years of marriage and family, especially as the home itself grows and expands to accommodate the growing family.

I first read this book when I was a young mother and could readily understand Lindbergh's comment that saints were so rarely married woman because of the distractions inherent in raising children and running a house. "Human relationships with their myriad pulls--woman's normal occupations in general run counter to creative life, or contemplative life, or saintly life." Now in midlife, I can better understand her affinity for all the shells as reminders that each cycle of the wave, the tide, and the relationship is valid.

This book came very highly recommended by two friends who are avid book readers. However I hate to admit that the book did not move me as much as my friends claimed that it moved them. I was more interested about the background references to the author's personal life and how the book came into being. That I would have read voraciously. The book is short but I don't intend to read it again to see what I missed. I believe a book either moves you or it doesn't. This particular book despite other rave reviews did not move me despite my great affinity for the sea and women writers. I wonder if perhaps if the book would have touched me differently if I read it in the beach rather than on a plane which I did.

DRAGONSINGER shows off sci-fi/fantasy writer Anne McCaffrey at her best and most accessible. Of the three books which make up the Harper Hall trilogy, this one is my favorite and a book to which I've returned a bunchful of times. Only thing is, whenever I dust this off (or, come to think of it, any of the early Pern novels), I tend to go ahead and re-read the whole friggin' series. The Harper Hall trilogy, more so than any of the Dragonriders of Pern novels, is targeted towards a young adult audience, but it'll certainly charm a reader of whatever age. And if one is looking for a capable, extremely engaging role model, then look no further than Menolly of Half-Circle Sea Hold.

DRAGONSINGER picks up almost immediately from where Dragonsong left off, with Menolly arriving at the Harper Craft Hall to begin her harper's apprenticeship. A gifted songwriter/singer/musician and the young accidental mistress of nine gluttonous but ever loyal fire lizards, the shy and vulnerable Menolly finds herself near overwhelmed by her new circumstances. She's very conscious of her horribly scarred hand (which prevents her from playing her music) and her still woefully tender feet (from having outran Thread, deadly silver spores which periodically rain on Pern). At Harper Hall, Menolly meets and is intimidated by an array of stern and skeptical teachers. She faces the scorn of her fellow female students, with whom she must share room and board. Her unconventionality and her rare fire lizards mark her as a target of curiousity and envy. For Menolly, all this is almost too hard to bear. But she loves music and loves her fire lizards. And, it turns out, she has more friends than she thinks...

DRAGONSINGER, first published in 1977, is the second book in the Harper Hall trilogy, and, in my opinion, is the best of the three. It continues Menolly's coming-of-age tale and introduces the readers to a gang of winning characters, such as the quiet journeyman Sebell, the majestic, offbeat Master Shonagar, and the impish and ingratiating Piemur (who would take center stage in Dragondrums). Of course, the awesome and perceptive Masterharper Robinton figures in most of the Pern novels, and he makes his presence vigorously felt here. Who wouldn't want to work for someone like him?

Another neat thing about the Harper Hall trilogy is that it allows the reader to relive events in McCaffrey's other novels. Specifically, the timeline of DRAGONSONG and DRAGONSINGER coincides with that of Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern), so that, just as we revisited Jaxom's impressing of Ruth thru Menolly's eyes in DRAGONSONG, here, we get Menolly and Harper Hall's horrified reactions to F'nor's disastrous foray to the inhospitable Red Star. Later, the third Harper Hall entry, DRAGONDRUMS, would touch on events occuring in The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern Vol 3).

McCaffrey warmly covers a span of seven eventful days in Menolly's life, chronicling her transitioning from an uncertain, bashful young girl to a confident one with the world opened up before her. Menolly is tall and gangly and unsure, and so appealing. It's a joy reading of her overcoming her challenges, making new friends, and impressing just near everyone with her musical talents. My favorite moments would have to be the ones in which she's engaged in her music or spending time with her fair of fire lizards (and, believe me, both activities take up huge, huge chunks of the book). Scenes to look out for: the first time Menolly feeds her fire lizards at Harper Hall, the impromptu Hall concert during Threadfall, all the moments with Shonagar, and Gather Day. As ever, McCaffrey peppers her book with sightings of benevolent dragons, who constantly guard Pern against Thread, and their miniature and inquisitive cousins, the fire lizards. Actually, in this Harper Hall series, the focus is more on the fire lizards than on the dragons. McCaffrey lends Menolly's fire lizards their own distinct personalities, from the imperious Beauty to the nagging Aunties One and Two, to the beleaguered Uncle, to the aptly named Lazybones.

Compared to the other, more adult-oriented novels about Pern, DRAGONSINGER is a lighter, more intimate read, and not as intricately plotted. The stakes here don't shape the world, just Menolly's personal universe. But, I'll tell you what, you'll get caught up in it. DRAGONSINGER (and a whole mess of McCaffrey's novels, come to think of it) fits cozily on my shelf of comfort books. I normally have two copies of books which I particularly love. With DRAGONSINGER, I have three, two of which are pretty threadbare. Such a good read.

Menolly has achieved her dream of living in Harper Hall, despite the disadvantage of being born female. But she does not know how she will fit in and the fact that she accidentally Impressed nine fire lizards causes disruptions in class and jealousies from the other students. That she comes to realize her full talent as a musician, singer and songwriter and revel in the company of other musicians is the delight of this perfect fantasy novel.

This gem of a story is appropriate for creative girls and women of all ages, all creative endeavors because it says that the barriers the world puts in your way won't stand up to friendship, hard work and talent. I wore out two paperback copies before breaking down and buying it in hardback. Highly recommended.

The harper Hall Trilogy is my favorite set by McCaffrey and interestingly the first books I read by her. I love dragons and there for dragon stories, particularly ones were dragons are not mindless monsters of destruction, so it would be odd for me not to like these books. The story is very original and the characters well written. If your not sure of getting into the Pern books, this is the series to read! Dragonsinger is a really strong book, despite being in the middle of a set. The story keeps going strong and the characters stay true to themselves.

I know I wasn't supposed to read this book first, but it was on the free book cart at the library. And I've wanted to read McCaffery for some time now. I'd give this book four a half stars. I'd like to have given it five. But I'll get to that in a minute. Her prose is elegant. Each of her characters is clearly defined. The main, Menolly, is strong and modest, but often bleek and insecure because of her background. Thus her behavior makes sense at times when she is overly passive when she shouldn't be. As well as apologizing for every little thing. However, her giving a shiner to Benis was priceless. I love the tiny info on the Fort Sea Hold, and look I look forward to getting clear description when I read DragonSong. The only problem I had with this book was there was no real action, besides the brawl at the Gather. Though I must say, the book was not boringt any time. But I did have to put it down from time to time because its lack of action.

Can't wait to read more McCaffery. I see why she's one of the leading authors in the SciFi/Fantasy genre.

Menolly is now at the Harper Hall. However, she is a geek/nerd and doesn't fit in with all the girls who like doing the standard chick things. Plus there just happens to be a bunch of fire lizards following her around.

She also has to deal with the problem of choosing or being asked to choose a specialisation and someone to be a mentor.

So many excellent and easy-to-make recipes! The author guides you through the best ways to make each pie, and even gives you hints for making it special. Read each recipe all the way through because sometimes they may take longer than anticipated... but they ALL have come out great so far. (My friends want pie every time they see me now!)

Not exactly what I was looking for. If you like classic pies, nothing really out of the ordinary, then you'll love it.

i like pie.

this cookbook is an excellent resource vis-a-vis the aforementioned predilection.

For the first time in my life I am now making completely awesome pies FROM SCRATCH. I totally won my family's thanksgiving bake-off this past holiday season.

Mmmmm, pie.

Pero creo que debieron incluir mas fotos!!! no tiene suficientes fotografias..las recetas basicas son muy muy buenas...

this kind of book is right up my alley, time period is the most enchanting.

I will keep this short and simple Mrs. Wolf is one of the best writers around. I loved this book it was worth every penny and I plan to keep it and read again one day.

This was a great read -- I could not put it down. It was wonderful to start with the young Arthur and the experiences that made him the man - king -- that he was. The love story between Arthur and Morgan is truly heartbreaking and will bring tears to your eyes. The scene where Arthur comes face to face with the son he didn't know he had is gut wrenching.

I highly recommend this book, as well as the other two that follow in this trilogy, Born of the Sun and The Edge of Light. I wish the author would return to this style and quality of writing as opposed to the light fluffy regencies she is currently writing.

The Road to Avalon is the story of King Arthur written as pure historical fiction with very elements of fantasy. This makes it quite a different story from the one that is normally told. There is no magic, no dragons, no quest for the Holy Grail and such things as are normally incorporated into the story.

Uther Pendragon and Igrane married and three months later had a son. Because Igrane was married to another man when the son was conceived (though it was Uther's child) they thought it best that the child not be Uther's heir. So he was sent away to be raised with peasants. Fast forward nine years and Igrane has had no other living children, so Uther sends his father in law, Merlin, to fetch young Arthur and raise him to be a king. Only when Merlin finds him he discovers the boy has endured years of abuse. He takes him home to his villa, Avalon, and raises him along side his eight year old daughter Morgan. But he never tells Arthur who he is.

Morgan and Arthur grow up together and are in love. But Arthur is reveled to be the next High King when he is 16 and he learns Morgan is his half-aunt and he can never marry her. They end their relationship. Arthur doesn't want to live without Morgan but she knows the country needs him and sends him away.

You can guess the rest. This is a lovely version of the classic Camelot tale and is very romantic and sweet. My only complaint is that Morgan doesn't have much of a personality-she's basically a reflection of Arthur, who is a lovely portrayal of a tortured soul who only exists because of love. And the choice she made about not marrying Arthur because they couldn't have children after her son Mordred was born seems stupid. I don't think that she did it purely so Mordred could have a happy childhood-she could have made him happy with her and Arthur. But other than that she's a great charecter. And it is nice how no one is really evil in this book or wholly unlikable-everyone is portrayed very fairly.

Anyway, good book. Four point five stars.

An incredible version of King Arthur sans Lancelot. This is the story of Arthur, and his more than humble beginnings, until Merlin tells him years after he "adopted" him that he is the heir to the British throne after Uther. He is Uther and Igraine's legitimate son. While Merlin is preparing him to be a leader whilst living in Avalon with his daughter Morgan, the two children develop a lasting friendship that turns into love. He doesn't know for years that Uther is his father, Igraine his mother, Merlin his grandfather and Morgan his aunt until he is to be king. By then it is too late to stop the love between Morgan and Arthur.

He becomes king but he still wants to marry Morgan. Merlin & Morgan warn him that the threat of incest will impede his reign and tell him it's impossible to marry her. He does eventually marry Gwenhwyfar in a loveless marriage to produce an heir while continuing his relationship with Morgan. Meanwhile, Gwenhwyfar finds comfort with Bedwyr with Arthur's knowledge and unspoken permission. Morgan has been keeping a secret from Arthur for 15 years that also comes out.

Read this book! It's a refreshing storyline that I haven't encountered before. Bedwyr is Gwenhwyfar's lover and there is no Lancelot to fuddle things up as usual. Mordred is portrayed as a very unwordly teen and unsure of himself and others. Agravaine is as obnoxious and cunning as he usually is in other novels. Gwenhwyfar is in love with two men. Finally, the relationship between Arthur and Morgan is not a simple one but a lasting one.

I think Spielberg's a genius. There, I've said it. He takes simple men, surely John Miller, Captain, 2nd Ranger Battalion is just that, a simple man, and paints a canvas of such detail of Armageddon, putting these simple men all over the painting. Hell. The end of the world. Good versus evil. Call it what you may. "I'm a history teacher," he says in the movie in one extraordinarily tense scene. "I teach history in a small high school in Pennsylvania. . . .when I'm done here I don't know if I can go back to it."

I'm reminded of another 'simple man' that came from Pennsylvania in novel lore. Lieutenant Harry Brubaker, the lawyer who flies F-9 Panther Jets in Michner's brief story about the carnage in Korea, 'Bridges at To Ko Ri.'

But the point is Spielberg tells us that they were all simple men and we don't believe him at first. We keep looking for Arnie Schwarznegger or Chuck Norris or The Rock. But they are and were normal guys, guys from Brooklyn New York and Brooklyn Michigan. Guys from towns you never heard of in Iowa, where Jimmy Ryan and his brothers came from. Just guys in the greatest carnage the world ever knew. And Spielberg shows us what they did. They changed the world.

The five Sullivan brothers all went down with their ship in the middle of the war and after that the powers that be would not commit one brother in a theater of combat where another brother was also serving in harm's way. So here, one of Jimmy Ryan's brothers is killed in the Pacific and one brother is killed in Anzio Beach. And Sean Ryan is killed in the landing at Omaha Beach. And Captain John Miller and a squad of men he picks are asked to find him to send him home.

A wonderful book to compliment a movie that should be preserved forever about an ubelievable body of men and women. "Was I a good man," asks James Ryan 50 years later? My Dad asked me the same question a few years ago. Five stars is not enough. Larry Scantlebury.

This Movie Is Great It Has The MG-42 Bullets Going Right Through The Water On The Beach.The Blood,Gore,Gun Realism Is Great.It Also Is A Heart Touching Movie.The Action Is Great,The Guns,The Cool Guys,And The Nazis....

This Movie Is Great It Has The MG-42 Bullets Going Right Through The Water On The Beach.The Blood,Gore,Gun Realism Is Great.It Also Is A Heart Touching Movie.The Action Is Great,The Guns,The Cool Guys,And The Nazis.If You Like SPR(Saving Private Ryan)Than Play The Game MoH:AA(Medal Of Honor:Allied Assault)For PC It Has The Same Weapons And The Same Missions Like The Real WWII.Good Luck

I think this story is a very good story it really shows how the war really whent. my favrit character in this story was mellish well i'v seen the movie and i think he is the cutest i also like capazo he was really cool i think uhpum was a bit of a wimp but apart from that i think it was really cool.If i was to give this movie/book a raiting out of 100 i would give it 100 becaust it is so good.

Saving Private Ryan and The Triumph and the Glory have sparked an interest in me about WWII. The novel isn't quite as good as the movie but anyway this book is a great behind the scenes look at the making of a terrific movie.

This is a beautiful, timeless story, told in gorgeous prose, and charmingly decorated. I'm not the sort of person who gushes over books, but this one is true literary perfection, and not just for children. It's the kind of book that, no matter how old you are when you first read it, will stay with you for the rest of your life.

I read this as a child. It got stuck in my mind, but I could never remember the title, thinking of it only as the story of the Hunter and the Mermaid. I searched for it for years.

This is a beautiful story, one of my favorites for children.

This story by Jarrell is gentle, mythical, and stands the test of time. A short story about a solitary hunter on an island, who meets a mermaid, and together form a family with animals they meet. The tone is warm and soft, kind and at times bittersweet.

While perfect for bedtime, cold or rainy days, this book is appealing to me even as i grow older. The subtle lessons about companionship, newness, differences, loneliness, loss, and joy are not forced to the fore. Rather, an old-fashioned sense of creating an environment as a way to tell a story is key here. Inviting wilderness, homely relationships, and just enough magic and mystery to compel the story forward.

One of my most treasured books since i was a young child, the is a timeless and infinitely re-readable story.

Randall Jarrell (1914-65) is better known as a poet, although probably best known today for his poetry criticism. He also wrote a few children's book, most notably The Bat-Poet and The Animal Family, the later published the same year he died and winning the 1966 Newbery Honor. It is wonderfully illustrated by Maurice Sendak - of Where the Wild Things Are fame - in beautiful pen and ink drawings.

The story is a sort of fable along the lines of Hans Christian Andersen or Lewis Carroll, but updated with a 1960s message. It is about a lonely hunter who lives in a cabin by the sea who with time comes to gather around him a "family" of very different creatures, first a mermaid, and then a bear, lynx, and human boy. Each is an orphan whose parents have either died or somehow left the scene. They all are very different animals yet find comfort and eventually identity with one another. It is a story in the spirit of the Age of Aquarius, when songs such as Free to Be You and Me and Free to Be a Family resonated during a cultural revolution in which boundaries of class, race and, in this case, even species were being explored, when everyone was a "brother" and "sister".

My reading of the story in its 1960s context is only one interpretation, this is not a heavy handed preachy book by any measure, it is timeless in its message about toleration of differences, the power of love to overcome anything (including for a mermaid to live on land, in effect brining a happy ending to Hans Andersen's otherwise brutal The Little Mermaid), and in particular for those who seek out love and find it in the most un-expected places. It is a short book, easy to read, and poetically written. Over the past 40 years it has found a place close to the heart of many children and adults, I only wish I had discovered it sooner.

Every once in a while, an author manages to pull off a novel that carries with it the exact tone and magical feeling of a fairy tale. In the genre of The Last Unicorn and The Princess Bride, this beautiful story takes you into a peaceful world where a lonely hunter lives by the sea.
The story follows the hunter's efforts to make a family for himself, and to keep that family safe. I don't want to spoil any of the plot points, but I will say that this gentle fable is going to fill each reader with joy and contentment. The tale is universal, and is just perfect for a shared experience at bedtime.
The decorations by Maurice Sendak are also quite lovely, giving us detailed sketches of the landscapes that the hunter and his family occupy.

Historical Romance with a touch of the Gothic.
The India Fan is an heirloom. Framling family legend considers it cursed, capable of visiting tragedy to it's possessor.
Vicar's daughter, Drusilla, is befriended by wealthy siblings, Fabian and Lavinia Framling.
Lavinia and Drusilla are sent to a French boarding school to complete their education. Lavinia succeeds at a certain type of education, and is soon pregnant by a deceitful seducer. This results in a secret confinement at a discrete "clinic". The child is born and quickly adopted.
Shallow Lavinia focuses on her upcoming Season and suitors, heedless of the entire incident.
The Framlings have close trading ties with the East India trading company. Sir Fabian, Lavinia and her husband, Dougal are living in India.
Drusilla, after her father's death, is invited out to Bombay. Lavinia needs a Companion and her children need a Governess.
All is not well. Selfish Lavinia is bored. Dougal is disillusioned by his wife and marriage. The family is relocating to the Company's headquarters in Delhi. Where they will be reunited with Sir Fabian.
The situation goes from bad to worse. There is increased unrest amongst the native Indian population. It erupts into open revolt. Drusilla and her young charges, with the help of Sir Fabian, must survive the violent taking of Delhi.
This fast-paced romance includes blackmail, arson, murder, and the horrific Sepoy Rebellion.
Recommended.

My friend gave this book to me because the book was "thicker" than what she used to reading, and till this day I still thank her for giving me this book for it is a GEM!!!! I tried reading it on a whim and was hooked by midway through the 2nd chapter. The story was soooo addictive that I neglected my school works to read it; I read it in class while my teachers (I was in high school) lectured. I think what made this story different and why it has made a lasting impression on me was the way Holt expland the time the plot takes place. Other stories have their main characters married or fell in love by 6-8 months (some sooner and some later) but Holt takes you through a journey that took years to happen, and she gave all her secondary characters dimension and depth. I may or may not be making sense in my fascination w/ Ms. Holt's work, but other Holt fans would understand me (i hope :D). I also loved how Ms. Holt created the air of romance without (too much of, if at all) pre-marital sex. Call me crazy but i was sooo into her characters that long after finishing the book, i sometimes wondered how "Fabian and Drusilla are doing now, or how many children did they end up having...etc"

Slightly gothic, historical romance.
The India Fan is a Framling family heirloom. Legend states that it is cursed and can bring only unhappiness to it's possessor.
Vicar's daughter, Drusilla, is befriended by wealthy siblings, Fabian and Lavinia Framling.
The Framlings have close trading ties with the East India Company. Sir Fabian travels frequently to India on trading business.
Lavinia and Drusilla are sent to a French boarding school to complete their education. Flirtatious Lavinia succeeds at a certain type of education and becomes pregnant by a deceitful seducer. This results in a secret confinement at a discreet "clinic". The child is born, and quickly adopted.
Shallow Lavinia focuses on her upcoming Season and suitors, heedless of the entire incident. But someone remembers and Lavinia will be made to pay.
Drusilla's father dies after a long illness. Sir Fabian, Lavinia and her husband, Dougal, are living in India. Drusilla is invited out to Bombay, to serve as Lavinia's companion and teacher to her children.
All is not well. Selfish Lavinia is bored. Dougal is disillusioned by his wife and marriage. The Company's headquarters are in Delhi. Soon the family is relocating to Delhi and reunited with Sir Fabian.
There is increased unrest amongst the native Indian population. Finally it erupts into open revolt. Drusilla and her charges must survive the violent taking of Delhi.
This romance includes blackmail, arson, murder and (to top it all off) the horrific Sepoy Rebellion.
Recommended.

I rank The India Fan as one of Victoria Holt's best. Drusilla is an excellent narrator and as in Holt's best, the romance doesn't blindside you out of nowhere, nor does the "hea" seem incongruous because we're shown Fabian's growth and love for her through their interactions. And as is apparent in most of Holt's novels, The India Fan doesn't stint on the lush, vivid descriptions of Indian life and the massacre at Lucknow.

This is my second Victoria Holt book and it is so beautiful. Although I don't get why saves Lavinia so many times , although she does get rewarded. It's a good thing that Lavinia dies anyway.She defineitly deservered that.But this is a pretty story but not as 'The Silk Vendetta', which is a 10 times better than this . But still it is addicting. I recommend this to anybody who likes romance and mystery . But this one has more mystery and doesn't really tell about the Indian culture that well.

Kerish-lo-Taan, third prince of the emperor, and one of the Godborn, has been chosen to fulfill the ancient prophecy of releasing the savior of Galkis. Seven keys held by seven sorcerers will unlock the seven gates imprisoning him. With the five kingdoms of the south united, and corruption within Galkis, it seems hopeless. With the help of his half brother, Forollkin the warrior, can the seemingly frail and childish Kerish complete his destiny?

I read the series of four books when an impressionable teen. They stuck with me for a very long time. My mum and I used to discuss who would play the titles roles as surely they would make a movie out of this fantastic series of books. Prince Kerish touched me in ways other books couldn't, you read, entranced as he turned from a spoilt boy into a man. There are still scenes I can relive in my head now. My particular favorite is Lihlanee the marsh cat, rescuing the prince as they enter the Dead Kingdom, so sad I cried. As others have written, the books are far too complex to explain easily. It took me some years to track them down too. I even used the books as a basis for my English exams! You have to read these books!

This is a suprisingly good series, though each of the four books is a short 200ish pages and could have just been sold as one 800ish page doorstopper in the current style.

It is about a fascinating central and ancient empire, the rulers of which are descended from gods, but have fallen into decadence. The empire itself is threatened by barbarians who have recently united.

The story focuses on half brothers, their relationship and personal growth, and their quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy that could save the empire.

The world Harris has created is particularly interesting.


I wonder why this was never reprinted, as it appears there are no copies available past the early 80's edition.

This novel was full of all sorts of magic. Through the use of her skills of describing Mrs. Harris brings to life a world of magic, adventure, and action. I can tell that this is the first in a line of spectacullar novels.

I hadn't heard of Geraldine Harris when I found volume three of this series in a Lexington bookstore. The title impressed me, however-The Dead Kingdom, and I bought the book based on a nice comment printed on the dust jacket. Over the next couple of years I accessed the internet and scoured stores for the other three installments by Harris. They proved elusive, or available but expensive buys on the net in those days. Persistence pays, however, and I found them. I began reading with the first volume, this book: A Prince of the Godborn. Godborn sets up the story, filling us in on Harris's world, providing an image of the main character, the godborn prince of a besieged kingdom. It seems some neighboring warrior tribes are threatening attack, and the Prince of the Godborn must act heroically, undertaking a quest that'll by no means be easy: to recover the keys to 7 ominous citadels, scattered pell-mell across Harris's landscape. The quest expands across the four books, the Prince encountering the kingdoms and citadels one by one, until the final, sobering encounter, as he ascends the enigmatic seventh citadel. FYI- The four books that tell this story are the following: A Prince of the Godborn, The Children of the Wind, The Dead Kingdom, and the Seventh Gate. A great series in my estimation, and a story I completed in back-to-back readings of the four books.

Mr. John Pollock's The Apostle: A Life of Paul is a must read for anyone interested in learning about the man who wrote such a large portion of the New Testament. The book wonderfully takes you from Saul's beginnings as an extraordinary intellectually gifted Jew and keeper of the law, to his conversion to Christianity to become Paul, and then his pilgrimage as a deliverer of the gospel.

All stops along Paul's way are covered by Mr. Pollock in this novel type book. That's not to say it's a novel, but rather it reads like a novel. Great details are given throughout the story providing valuable background on the customs and how people lived during Paul's walk.

If you are interested in further studying Paul outside what he wrote in the Bible I highly recommend this book.

This book is written like a novel, but the research is so extensive it stands halfway between fiction and a historical treatise. You feel like you're living the excitement of the early church as you move with Paul through his adventure-filled life.

While some judgments had to be made in order to tell it like a story, he even gives footnotes explaining other options at certain points. This is a wonderful way to get started in New Testament history.

Dennis McCallum, author Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community

The author does an excellent job of making you feel like you are on the journey with Paul - a journey that changed the world. I read the book in conjunction with the Book of Acts and Pollock does an excellent job of keeping the book biblically accurate. I highly recommend it!

While many books on Paul, the last apostle, tend to be very high-browed in their approach, Mr.Pollock excels at putting together a believable, and very readable, biography of St. Paul.

In short, he brings to light many nuances that most of us, as laymen, tend to overlook or misunderstand contectually in the course of our reading the epistles. I have some familiarity with W.M. Ramsay's work and Pollock follows his suppositions closely. What's commendable is that Pollock never tries to snow his reader. He's very upfront about how he approaches areas of conjecture.

A great primer on the life of Paul in a way that will make him a living, breathing human being and clarify his intent and motivations in writing these wonderful letters to his "children".

John Pollock has written what I believe to be an excellent biography on one of the most influential people (behind Jesus Christ, of course!) of the Bible - Paul formerly known as Saul of Tarsus.

Throughout the book Pollock includes biblical stories of Paul's experiences and writes the book in a biographical style. Included are the following events from Paul's life:

1. Presence at Stephan's stoning.
2. Conversion on the Damascus Road.
3. Various missionary journies.
4. Conflict with Barnabas over John Mark.
5. Relationship with Timothy.
6. Shipwreck and landing at Malta.
7. Final days in Rome.

As you read the book, you will see that Pollock is true to the New Testament accounts of Paul's life.

Read and enjoy. Recommended.

There's a fair few of these sorts of books out there these days, a few are good but most are pretty average. Can a Guy Get Pregnant although not the best book in this genre is still one of the good ones!

In Can a Guy Get Pregnant the authors answer heaps of weird questions you've probably wondered yourself and if you haven't you definitely will once someone else asks them. Something that differentiates this book from its competitors is that the authors have also drawn little rough drawings beside most questions further lightening the tone of the book but too be honest probably also padding it out a little. The other thing that differentiates this book is the psychology and philosophy chapter Part 2 Love. I would have preferred more of the other type questions myself but there's still enough of them to make this a great book.

Some of the questions asked and answered inside include -
Can people commit crimes in their sleep?
Are there people who don't have flatulent moments?
Can dreams help you stop smoking or lose weight?
Can a guy pregnant? (Title question of the book)
Can a body live without a head?
Can you drink your own urine if you have to?
Why is it so hard to talk to someone your attracted to?
Can a person die laughing?
Will a guillotined head feel itself hit the ground?
Can a body live without a head?
Can humans and chimps interbreed?
When lightning strikes water, do fish die?
Does a human year equal 7 dog years?
Will your pets eat your corpse if you die alone with them?

The best entertaining books that teach you stuff too are [ASIN:0099505266 How Slow Can you Waterski?]] by Simon Rogers, (also released under the title Can You Drill a Hole Through Your Head and Survive?) Dr Karl Kruszelnicki's Great Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths, Q & A with Dr. K, Pigeon Poo, the Universe & Car Paint: And Other Awesome Science Moments and the rest of his books. Do Blue Bedsheets Bring Babies?: The Truth Behind Old Wives' Tales, Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini, Shocking Science, So Gross (Over 100 Gross-Worthy Facts) and Everything You Need to Know About the World by Simon Eliot.

the book contained interesting facts. The book contained notes that were written between the two writters there were ment to be funny, which was rather stupid... but the facts were interesting. If you like strange facts, you will probably enjoy this book.

I thought this book was funny and insightful. If you are looking for a quick read about stuff that you never knew you wanted to know ~ this book is for you =)

This book has been a wonderful read. Not only does it contain humor, but you will learn some neat facts. Trust me if you read it you will always have something unique to add to almost any conversation. I whole-heartily recommend this book to anyone.

This book answers some of these questions that you really wanted to know the answer to, but were afraid to ask somebody. 'Can A Guy Get Pregnant?' answers oddball question on the Body, Love, Death and Animals through scientific reasearch with a good dose of humor. Questions range from 'Do Dogs watch TV?' to "Could A Black Hole Kill Us All?'. You'll have to read the book to find out. I smell a sequel, folks!